Portable hand tool

ABSTRACT

A portable hand tool is disclosed for straightening bent flanges of metal members. A support structure is provided having first and second detent pins adjustably disposed in spaced relationship to each other adjacent one side of said structure, and force applying means is disposed adjacent the opposite side thereof in operative interposition to said detent pins and engageable with one edge of a bent flange while the detent pins engage the other edge thereof and coactable with said detent pins to straighten said flange. The tool is useful with channel bars, T-bars, angle bars, I-beams, H-bars, Z-bars and like metal stock.

United States Patent 1 Ratfield [451 July 17,1973

[ PORTABLE HAND TOOL [76] inventor: Kenneth A. Ratfield, 745 East Prairie St., Marengo, II]. 60152 [22] Filed: Sept. 29,1971

[211 Appl. No.: 182,052

Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-Gene P. Crosby Att0rney-Richard R. Mybeck 57] ABSTRACT A portable hand tool is disclosed for straightening bent flanges of metal members. A support structure is provided having first and second detent pins adjustably disposed in spaced relationship to each other adjacent one side of said structure, and force applying means is dis posed adjacent the opposite side thereof in operative interposition to said detent pins and engageable with one edge of a bent flange while the detent pins engage the other edge thereof and coactable with said detent pins to straighten said flange. The tool is useful with channel bars, T-bars, angle bars, l-beams, H-bars, Z- bars and like metal stock.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmmznw i 3.745.806

FIG-.5

26 FIG.6

INVENTOR KENNETH A. RATFIELD BY BM ATTORNEY PORTABLE HAND TOOL DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION This invention relates to portable hand tools and more particularly to a portable hand tool for straightening bent flanges of structural beams, channels, tubes, bars, angles and the like.

In the fabrication of metal parts and structures, long sections of I-beams, channels and the like are delivered to the work area by convenient surface transportation such as cargo trucks, flat bed railway cars. At the work area, the pieces are unloaded and stacked until needed for use.

In the handling of such members not infrequently the flanges of one or more members are bent either by banging another, being dropped on the ground or otherwise.

In the prior art practices, any such damage to the piece necessitated its return to the mill for straightening and, frequently, heat treatment with the attendent delay and inconvenience to the metal fabricator whose shipment was damaged.

Not infrequently, straightening of such bent beams and the like required the massive breaker presses too expensive for ownership by the fabricator and found only at the mill so that even when heat treatment could be avoided, removal of the damaged member could not be.

The present invention is based on the development of a portable hand tool which is fully capable of straightening the bent flanges on I-beams and the like and thereby avoids returning such pieces to the mill for rehandling.

It is to be understood that the tool of this disclosure is not recommended for use when the damage is a badly bent web as this defect can still only-be cured properly and safely at the mill where appropriate stress relief can be obtained.

This present invention is however profoundly suitable for straightening the bent flange portions of such members and as such represents a remarkable advance for the metal fabricator who is thus able to correct these defects in his shop and is not subjected to the loss of time which inevitably resulted from the prior practice of returning the stock to the mill.

The tool of the present invention is based on the development of a novel design having unexpected strength and yet of a mass whereby it can be manually moved in the plant. The tool comprises a generally triangular support having holes strategically drilled along two arms thereof for coaction with a unique retainer pin insertable thereinto to define first and second detent means in spaced relationship to each other and disposed generally along an axis parallel to the trued longitudinal axis of the member to be straightened. The tool further comprises force applying means mounted upon said support and actuatable to apply a force to and through said flange into said detent means to straighten said flange, said applied force engaging said flange on the convex surface of said bend and said detent means engaging the concave surface of said bend. By applying such force to the convex surface intermediate of said detent means, the bent flange is forced into alignment as the force applying means, advancing under pressure, urges the adjacent flange edge toward said detent while the detent means resist the movement of the edge adjacent thereto whereupon the actual longitudinal axis of said flange is brought into concurrence with the true longitudinal axis thereof.

Accordingly, it is a prime object of the present invention to provide a portable hand tool manually operative to realign bent flanged structural beams, bars, channels and angles without returning said damaged members to the mill.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable beam straightener which can be manually operated in the fabricators yard and moved about to the work piece while eliminating the need to move the work piece to the tool.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a portable hand tool which is inexpensive to manufacture and which can therefore be marketed at a price which allows metal fabricators to maintain one or more of the tools in their plant.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable hand tool for straightening bent flanges on structural members in a quick and easy fashion whereby time loss because of damaged members is reduced to a minimum.

These and still further objects as shall hereinafter appear are fulfilled by the present invention in a remarkably unexpected fashion as can be readily discerned from a careful consideration of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, especially when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tool of the present invention in operative engagement with a structural member having a bent flange before the flange is straightened;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tool of FIG. 1 after the flange has been straightened;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the tool of FIG. 2, partially. broken away for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the tool of FIG. 2 taken along line IV-IV thereof;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of a pair of tools embodying the present invention employed to straighten a flange having a complex bend therein; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a pin member useful with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, in which like parts bear like numerals throughout the several views, the portable hand tool of the present invention is identified by the general reference 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each tool 10 comprises a support structure having, relative to the drawing, a left arm Ill and a right arm 12 divergent from a center and interconnected by a base arm 13 to define a generally triangular structure. A pair of support arms 14, 15 are disposed in spaced relationship to each other and extend from base arm 13 across and into engagement with arms I I, I2, respectively, and secure a collar plate 37 therebetween thereby providing reinforcement for the structure and a mounting for the force applying means as shall hereinafter appear.

Force applying means, herein illustrated by a hydraulic system, comprises hydraulic hand pump 16 of conventional high pressure design, preferably ten ton ca pacity, having a cylinder 17 and a handle 18 actuatable -to pressurize said cylinder 17 from which, by means of suitable connector means such as conduit 19, pressure is transmitted from pump 16 to hydraulic push cylinder 20 (ten ton capacity) having telescopically disposed therewithin a spring-retractable ram 21 which extends outwardly therefrom through the opening in collar plate 37 in response to pressure delivered thereunto for the purpose to be defined below.

Arm 11 of the support structure is provided with a plurality of spaced locator holes 22 while arm 12 is provided with a similar set of locator holes 23. Each of the several holes 22 corresponds to a different one of said several holes 23 whereupon each set of corresponding holes 22, 23 defines therebetween a line which is substantially parallel to base arm I3.

Retainer pin 24 is insertable into a preselected one of said holes 22 to define therewith a detent means which functions in a manner to be hereinafter described. In a similar manner, retainer pin 25 coacts with a preselected one of said locator holes 23 to define therewith a second detent mens whose purpose will likewise be described below.

Each of said retainer pins, for example pin 24 as shown in FIG. 6, comprises, in its preferred form, a body portion 26 having a notch 27 defined in one surface thereof for engaging one edge of the flange to be straightened by the tool and a head portion 2% having suflicient thickness to engage and abut the edge 29 of the arm member of the corresponding locator hole 22,23 when it is seated therein to define the operative detent therewith.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, a suitable structural member is shown as an I-beam 30 having an upper flange 31, a lower flange 32 and an interconnecting web 33.

Assuming it is the upper flange 31. which has been bent in delivery, the tool It is seated upon the upper surface 36 of flange 3i and pins 24, 25 are respectively seated in a locator hole 22,23 so that notch 27 engages and receives the rear edge 34 of flange 3i therewithin and restrains it from movement there past.

The handle 18 of pump 16 is then actuated to provide pressure in cylinder 17 which is transmitted by means of hose 19 to cylinder 20 where, in response thereto, ram 21 advances into engagement with edge 35 of flange 31. Thus positioned relative to the bent flange, as shown in FIG. I, the tool is ready to be further activated to effect the straightening of the member 3ft.

The operation of the tool is thus obtained by further movement of the handle to build up pressure in the system until it reaches a magnitude sufficient to further advance ram 21, which has been disposed substantially at the crown of the convex side of the bend, and force the crown of the bend toward the true longitudinal center line of the member. Concurrently therewith, the detent means, effected by the coaction of the pins 24, 25 seated in holes 22,23 of arms H1, H2, respectively, create a reaction equidistant from the ram 211 and on each side thereof which holds the contact points of flange 311 from movement thereby facilitating the reconciliation of the actual center line of the member with its trued center line. The action of the tool is continued until, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the member is straightened.

As previously mentioned, tool 110 performs equally well on channels, beams, bars and the like formed in other flanged configurations as well as I-beams, here chosen to illustrate the operation thereof.

When the member is straightened, the pump 16 is vented in its usual fashion whereupon the pressure in the system is released and ram 21 retracts in response to the spring bias built therewith. Thus freed, the tool can be lifted manually and moved to the next project.

As shown in FIG. 5, more than one tool 10 may be used on the same member 30 if desired as where a complex or S-shaped bend occurs. In each use, however, the ram 21 will be disposed adjacent the crown of the convex edge of the bend and the detent means will be disposed adjacent the concave edge of the bend for best results.

The plurality of locator holes 22,23 in arms 11, 12, respectively, provide for the use of the tool to straighten structural members of a variety of widths and to straighten members of especially bad bends in which case the widest span, that is, the distance between the face of ram 21 and the line defined by the detent means, will be used for partial straightening and thereafter a narrower span will be used to complete the straightening action.

The tool is itself fabricated of structural steel and weldments have been found to provide sufficient strength at the junctures of the several members. High strength steel is preferred.

The locator holes are easily formed as by drilling and the entire tool is of sufficiently low weight to enable it to be lifted and positioned for operation by a single man.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the portable hand tool herein described and illustrated fulfills all of the aforementioned objects to a remarkably unexpected degree. It is of course understood that the foregoing description and illustration is'presented only as an exempliflcation and not as a limitation and that such other applications, modifications and alterations as may readily occur to the artisan from a consideration of this disclosure are intended within the spirit of this invention, especialiy as it is defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

I. A portable hand tool for placement upon and straightening bent flanges of elongated structural members such as beams, bars, channels and the like comprising a support structure having a base member and a pair of arm members, each of said arm members extending outwardly from a different end of said base member into converging engagement with each other, each of said arm members having a plurality of locator holes defined therethrough in spaced relationship to each other to receive a pin therewithin and define a flange engaging detent therewith; a force applying member operatively mounted upon said support intermediate said detents and actuatable toward said detents into engagement with the flange for coaction with said detents to straighten the bent flange interposed therebetween said tool being removable from the straightened flange simply by releasing the force from said force applying member and lifting said tool off of said flange.

2. A portable hand tool according to claim I in which said force applying member comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a ram telescopically disposed therewithin, a pump, and connector means interposed between said pump and said cylinder for actuating said ram in response to pressure applied by said pump.

3. A portable hand tool according to claim 2 in which said connector means comprises a hydraulic tube.

4,. A portable hand tool according to claim 2 in which said support structure comprises a first and second support arrn extending between said base ann and a different one of said arm members, respectively, in spaced relationship to each other and carrying said ram therebetween.

5. A portable hand tool according to claim 1 comprising a first and second pin member, each coacting with a locator hole in a different one of said arm members to define detent means therewith, each of said pins comprising a body portion having a flanges-receiving notch defined in the surface thereof adjacent the bottom end thereof and a head portion enlarged in the direction toward which said notch faces for abutment with a portion of said arm member associated therewith.

6. A portable hand tool according to claim 1 in which said flange is bent in a curve and is engaged by said tool so that the force applying member is disposed for engagement with the convex surface of said curve and normal to the crown of the convex surface of said bend.

9. A portable hand tool according to claim 4 in which a collar member interconnects said support arms adjacent the convergance of said arm members and has an opening defined therethrough, said cylinder being mounted to said collar so as to dispose said ram in registry with said opening.

8 II! t 

1. A portable hand tool for placement upon and straightening bent flanges of elongated structural members such as beams, bars, channels and the like comprising a support structure having a base member and a pair of arm members, each of said arm members extending outwardly from a different end of said base member into converging engagement with each other, each of said arm members having a plurality of locator holes defined therethrough in spaced relationship to each other to receive a pin therewithin and define a flange engaging detent therewith; a force applying member operatively mounted upon said support intermediate said detents and actuatable toward said detents into engagement with the flange for coaction with said detents to straighten the bent flange interposed therebetween said tool being removable from the straightened flange simply by releasing the force from said force applying member and lifting said tool off of said flange.
 2. A portable hand tool according to claim 1 in which said force applying member comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a ram telescopically disposed therewithin, a pump, and connector means interposed between said pump and said cylinder for actuating said ram in response to pressure applied by said pump.
 3. A portable hand tool according to claim 2 in which said connector means comprises a hydraulic tube.
 4. A portable hand tool according to claim 2 in which said support structure comprises a first and second support arm extending between said base arm and a different one of said arm members, respectively, in spaced relationship to each other and carrying said ram therebetween.
 5. A portable hand tool according to claim 1 comprising a first and second pin member, each coacting with a locator hole in a different one of said arm members to define detent means therewith, each of said pins comprising a body portion having a flange-receiving notch defined in the surface thereof adjacent the bottom end thereof and a head portion enlarged in the direction toward which said notch faces for abutment with a portion of said arm member associated therewith.
 6. A portable hand tool according to claim 1 in which said flange is bent in a curve and is engaged by said tool so that the force applying member is disposed for engagement with the convex surface of said curve and said detent means are disposed for engagement with the concave surface of said curve.
 7. A portable hand tool according to claim 6 in which said force applying member comprises a hydraulically actuated spring-biased ram.
 8. A portable hand tool according to claim 7 in which said ram is disposed to engage said flange substantially normal to the crown of the convex surface of said bend.
 9. A portable hand tool according to claim 4 in which a collar member interconnects said support arms adjacent the convergance of said arm members and has an opening defined therethrough, said cylinder being mounted to said collar so as to dispose said ram in registry with said opening. 